Ed Sheeran stepped forward on September 15 to clear the air. In a lengthy Instagram statement, the British star said Macklemore’s removal from the remaining U.S. dates of the Loop Tour was the promoter’s call, not his.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine. Macklemore’s contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me,”
Sheeran wrote. He added that he is “not complicit” and that he holds personal views on the Israel-Palestine conflict but keeps his shows focused on music and unity.
The clarification came after Macklemore was dropped from eight of the final U.S. shows. Fans and media had been asking who made the decision. Sheeran said he felt the need to speak up.
The trouble started at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on September 4 and 5. Macklemore, opening for Sheeran, performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.” He told the crowd a big reason he joined the tour was so he could stand in big stadiums and say “Free Palestine.” He spoke about people in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and showed related imagery.
The Israeli-American Council launched a petition calling for his removal. Some Jewish advocacy groups objected to the remarks and the way they were delivered.
The dispute quickly moved off the stage. Messina Touring Group, the U.S. promoter, said several upcoming venues would not allow concerts with Macklemore on the bill. Keeping him risked canceling shows that would affect hundreds of thousands of fans.
Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium, confirmed he would not host Macklemore. Kraft cited the onstage material from New Jersey plus what he called a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that he believed was hurtful to the Jewish community. He said the decision was about not providing a platform for what he viewed as hate speech, while noting that Palestinian suffering is real.
Macklemore later said Sheeran told him Kraft had also spoken with other stadium owners. That claim remains attributed to Macklemore and has not been independently confirmed across the board.
Sheeran said he agreed to have Macklemore on the tour because he respects him as an artist and lets support acts choose their own setlists. After the New Jersey shows, venues said they would pull dates if Macklemore stayed. Sheeran spoke with the venues, including Kraft, plus promoters and activists, trying to find a way forward. The venues and promoter held firm.
“I am appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine and the suffering on both sides,”
Sheeran wrote. He said he has personal views and supports causes privately, but he deliberately keeps his concerts as a place of safety and sanctuary for a mixed audience, including young fans. He would not abandon the fans, the crew, or the other acts who depend on the shows.
Hours after Sheeran’s statement, the remaining support acts walked away. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga all withdrew. They cited solidarity with Macklemore and support for Palestine. The U.S. leg was left without openers, though the shows themselves were still set to continue.
The episode leaves larger questions on the table. How far can artists go with political speech on major stadium tours? Who ultimately controls the lineup when venues and promoters hold the contracts? Those tensions are now playing out in public, with no simple answers.
